flicker ; taekook ❅

❅ twenty-five

Jeon Jeongguk

"Must I-"

"Yes, it's not up for discussion."

"But I,"

"Guk," Taehyung said softly but rather sternly. "come on. Let me put it on you."

I produced an exasperated sigh, standing perfectly still as he led the needle of the royal pin through the lapel of the navy blue suit jacket I had on, underneath a crisp white shirt & a light blue tie. In contrast, Taehyung wore all black besides his royal cape, a bright and unwavering red silk on the underside, but black with delicate silver trimmings on the top.
Today his hair was styled as opposed to the usual haphazard mess it was so consistently everybody eventually gave up on asking why it was that way, his crown atop his head.

It was perhaps the first time I saw him with his crown on since the battles before I officially became part of the guard, and it was refreshing to see him like this; the aura he radiated was still warm and inviting, but was also laced with this regalness & poise that it just made him look just that more beautiful - a feat I never thought could actually occur.

Only then did I realise he was finished, curious, giant brown eyes staring back at mine as he reeled off another list of things I could expect from General Lee. The lazy smile on my face threw him off momentarily, and when I realised that wouldn't be enough to silence him, I cupped his delicate face in my hands & gave him a kiss.

"Enough," I gasped once I pulled away. "you're stressing yourself out."

"Because he can't catch on about us!" He waved his arms about desperately, my eyebrows furrowing together at the thought of exactly how long it would be before his crown fell off his head. "My family's okay because hey, what can they do, but this is General Lee - my Dad part 2."

"Cut him some slack, how bad can he be?"

Taehyung's face hardened suddenly. "There is a reason why Jooheon doesn't speak of him."

"Well, we'll have to go and see. We'll never find out if we don't go." I suggested, taking his hand in mine, Tae responding with a gentle nod before stepping forward for another peck. I smirked, opening the door and standing outside for a couple of minutes before he exited himself, not even glancing to me once. I mirrored the rest of the maids nearby, bowing immediately at his presence.

"Let's go." He announced, and I stood up again, following after him.
From behind, it was impossible to not crack a proud smile at how well he carried himself, and how he would occasionally walk strangely when nobody was around to remind me that he was still there.

We went our separate ways once we reached the dining hall, Taehyung to his family, me to the other recruits. More specifically, I went to sit beside Akira at one of the windowsills, the sun in the process of setting & it's reflection causing her red eyes to present specks of different colours. At first, she didn't react, eyes fixed on the view; only when I leaned back & created a shadow over her face did she look at me. "You clean up nicely."